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How to Say ‘If it's in the afternoon, I think I can manage.’ in Japanese

午後なら何とかなりそうです。

gogo nara nan to ka nari sou desu

[gogo nah-rah nan toh kah nari soh dess]

Phrase Breakdown

午後なら

gogo nara

if it's the afternoon

午後 (gogo) means 'afternoon'. なら means 'if it's...'. You can pause briefly after this part.

Example

午後なら空いています。

If it's in the afternoon, I'm free.

Words in this phrase

午後

gogo

[gogo]

afternoon

The time of day after midday.

Example

午後には戻ります。

I will return in the afternoon.

なら

nara

[nah-rah]

if it is; if; as for

Used to set a condition, often meaning 'if it is the case that...'

Example

午後3時までなら今日届けられます。

If it is by 3 p.m., it can be delivered today.

何とか

nan to ka

somehow

何とか (nantoka) means 'somehow / one way or another'. Say it as four even beats: na-n-to-ka.

Example

何とかします。

I'll manage somehow.

Words in this phrase

何

nan

[nan]

what

何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.

Example

何時に始まりますか。

What time does it start?

と

to

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Particle that marks what was said or written, like quotation marks.

Example

彼は「はい」と言いました。

He said "yes."

か

ka

[kah]

some- (indefinite)

After a question word makes it indefinite; 何とか means somehow.

Example

何とかします。

I'll manage somehow.

なりそうです。

nari sou desu

it looks like it will work out

なる means 'become'. そうです means 'it seems'. The 'u' in 'desu' is nearly silent.

Example

うまくいきそうです。

It looks like it will go well.

Words in this phrase

なり

nari

[nari]

become

The stem of なる, used when something changes or comes to an amount.

Example

合計が二万円となります。

The total comes to 20,000 yen.

そう

sou

[soh]

seems; looks like

Adds the nuance that something appears to be a certain way.

Example

静かそうな個室ですね。

It seems like a quiet private room.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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